tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83848320103901663242018-03-05T19:43:03.547-08:00Dr. Preston's Literature & CompositionDr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger396125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-92021851553062534982012-08-13T12:53:00.000-07:002012-09-08T08:49:35.810-07:00new year new blogThis blog will remain available for the sake of nostalgia and research, but the 2011-12 show is over.<br /><br />If you want to watch/join this year's work in progress, please click <a href="http://drprestonsrhsenglitcomp12.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />For general information on Open Source Learning please follow @prestonlearning on Twitter or visit <a href="http://www.prestonlearning.com/">www.prestonlearning.com</a> or <a href="http://opensourcelearning.us/">opensourcelearning.us</a>.&nbsp; Both sites are currently in development, so if you click and don't see much please say hi on Twitter or let us know how to notify you in a comment to this post (we'll add you to the mailing list right away and delete the comment so your email doesn't stay public).<br /><br />Thanks for visiting!Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-8991523129326043052012-06-07T12:12:00.000-07:002012-12-08T11:54:05.305-08:00this is it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ti08opm5HBE/T9D8bpKi8CI/AAAAAAAAAdU/s95Fm0XihZE/s1600/grad+scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ti08opm5HBE/T9D8bpKi8CI/AAAAAAAAAdU/s95Fm0XihZE/s1600/grad+scene.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Hey everyone,<br />The parking lots and stands are full of proud parents carrying flowers and stuffed animals.&nbsp; People who don't normally wear socks are wearing ties.&nbsp; The opening strains of "Pomp &amp; Circumstance" are wafting up from the field.&nbsp; This is the last official post to the 2011-2012 course blog.<br /><br />It's hard to express-- especially for a wordy guy who's been talking your ears off all year-- how proud I am of you.&nbsp; Thank you for all your contributions.&nbsp; I wish each and every single one of you great success and I look forward to seeing you on in the alumni forum (you'll receive an invitation at the email address you listed on the course evaluation). <br /><br /><i>Sapere Aude. &nbsp;</i><br />Dr. Preston&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-32213998146286730972012-06-04T20:34:00.003-07:002012-06-04T20:34:49.998-07:00need laptops for period 2 & 3 final presentationsIf we're going to make the "open house" approach work tomorrow, we're going to need at least five laptops in periods 2 and 3.&nbsp; Please plan on bringing yours, or, if you'd like, please sign up in advance by commenting to this post.&nbsp; Period 2 had the idea-- thanks again, Jake!-- but only Ryan signed up.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-32242179762337797282012-06-04T11:27:00.000-07:002012-06-04T11:27:32.909-07:00last assignmnent: your course blog analyticsPlease post a comment to this post with the following information from your course blog (available on your blogger overview):<br /><ul><li>number of page views</li><li>number of posts</li><li>number of comments </li></ul>Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-88053825288368616412012-06-04T06:37:00.002-07:002012-06-04T06:37:30.268-07:00June 4: happy finals weekGood luck to everyone on your finals-- looking forward to period 6 project presentations today!Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-3242208980233564912012-06-03T00:44:00.000-07:002012-06-03T00:44:02.281-07:00love for the lurkersI was just looking something up on the course blog when I noticed--to my great surprise, at nearly 1 AM Sunday morning-- there are nine other visitors.&nbsp; On the odd chance those visitors are students, you have a chance to claim 100 points of Project Infinity credit by commenting to this post before 10 AM PDT Sunday (6.3) with a brief explanation of your favorite literary quote of all time.&nbsp; If you're a visitor but not a student, comment with a quote anyway.&nbsp; You'll receive double the credit; of course, it won't do you any direct good, but it will give students a reason to comment in an effort to impress you--and if they do, you can reward them with a portion or all of your points.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-29722335220754783322012-05-31T16:42:00.004-07:002012-05-31T16:42:39.602-07:00June 1JOURNAL TOPIC: [extra credit--last chance this year-- for everyone if you can agree on a song, hum it in unison, capture the video and post it to someone's course blog.&nbsp; If you pull it off, email projectinfinity@gmail.com or log into <a href="http://projectinfinitysite.wordpress.com/">project infinity</a> to claim your credit.]<br /><br />I just did a search on duckduckgo for "famous last lines of novels"-- and smiled at the <a href="http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/thearticles/lastlines">first result</a>, because you've read every book on the list! (quotes after the jump)&nbsp; On this, the auspicious last day of your journal*, what are YOUR famous last words?<br /><br />[*If you are not on campus today, please stop by to complete your journal on Monday 6.4]<br /><br />AGENDA:<br />1. Journal<br />2. Finishing touches on presentations-- and remember to sign up for tech support and food!&nbsp; (sign-up sheets are taped to the left side of the white board)<br /><br />LIFEWORK:<br />1. Fine-tune your presentations with love.<br />2. Prepare your food with love.<br /><br />See you next week.<br /><br /><div id="middle"><div id="adtable"></div></div><div id="middle"><div id="adtable"><a name='more'></a></div><div id="adtable">&nbsp; <br /><div id="middle"> Whilst the majority of famous quotations come from a huge variety of sources, whether books, popular media, or perhaps are records of speeches, many famous quotations are the first, or indeed last, line of books. Here we list some of the most famous last lines which have been immortalised over time: <br /><br />"With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them."<br /> - Jane Austen, <i>Pride and Prejudice </i><br /><br /> "I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath, and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers, for the sleepers in that quiet earth."<br /> - Emily Bronte, <i>Wuthering Heights </i><br /><br />"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."<br /> - Charles Dickens, <i>A Tale of Two Cities </i><br /><br /> "But that is the beginning of a new story - the story of the gradual renewal of a man, the story of his gradual regeneration, of his passing from one world into another, of his initiation into a new unknown life. That might be the subject of a new story, but our present story is ended."<br /> - Fyodor Dostoyevsky, <i>Crime and Punishment </i><br /><br />"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."<br /> - F. Scott Fitzgerald, <i>The Great Gatsby </i><br /><br />"They hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow,<br /> Through Eden took their solitary way."<br /> - John Milton, <i>Paradise Lost</i> <br /><br />"So thanks to all at once and to each one,<br /> Whom we invite to see us crowned at Scone."<br /> - William Shakespeare, <i>Macbeth</i> <br /><br /> "Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things;<br /> Some shall be pardoned, and some punished;<br /> For never was a story of more woe<br /> Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."<br /> - William Shakespeare, <i>Romeo and Juliet</i></div></div></div><div id="middle"><br /></div>Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-38572730373782521102012-05-31T09:29:00.001-07:002012-05-31T09:29:18.580-07:00May 31JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: Gorillas, Gorillaz, and Guerillas]<br /><br />I sat down to write a topic just now about what I've read in your journals over the last week-- many of you have feelings about parting ways with friends, family and the community structure you've known for a long time-- but then I signed into blogger and noticed that the course blog now has &gt;86,000 page views.&nbsp; This reminded me of Howard Rheingold's book <a href="http://www.rheingold.com/vc/book/intro.html"><i>Virtual Community</i></a>; the term is now common and defined by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_community">Wikipedia</a> as, "A social network of individuals who interact through specific media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals."&nbsp; This year we've created a learning community that transcends traditional limitations and stereotypes, and I'm creating an alumni/"friends of the course" platform so that all of us can stay connected to whatever extent we choose.&nbsp; Alumni networks are extremely common and effective for universities-- I found this job through a contact on the <a href="http://alumni.ucla.edu/#Pick-of-the-Day">UCLA alumni network</a>-- and a resource like this can be just as effective for you.&nbsp; All you'll have to do is register for access to author talks, collegiate/professional forums, and...<b><span style="color: red;">?</span></b>&nbsp; This is my question: what other features/benefits do you think this virtual community should include?&nbsp; How do you imagine using such a tool to take some very important next steps in your lives?<br /><br />AGENDA:<br />1. Journal<br />2. Projects &amp; fascinating conversation<br /><br />HW/Mission/Coursework/DFTYRBD (Diversion From Things You'd Rather Be Doing):<br />If you feel like you're finished with your project, your project is probably mediocre.&nbsp; Ask at least three of your colleagues for suggestions on how to make it better.&nbsp; Summarize the conversation and post to your blog, however you choose to act on their advice. <br /><br />Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-81327806244858942002012-05-30T13:16:00.004-07:002012-05-30T13:18:50.914-07:00help a friend with her researchInternational researcher and friend of the course Jasmin has asked each of us to take three minutes and complete her online survey, which you can find <a href="http://www.opinionpower.com/Surveys/279061318.html">HERE</a>.&nbsp; Thanks!Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-30956386698550747512012-05-30T10:16:00.005-07:002012-05-30T10:16:53.042-07:00wasting time is new divide in digital eraAccording to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/us/new-digital-divide-seen-in-wasting-time-online.html?smid=pl-share">this article</a> in yesterday's NY Times, <br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>In the 1990s, the term “digital divide” emerged to describe technology’s haves and have-nots. It inspired many efforts to get the latest computing tools into the hands of all Americans, particularly low-income families. </i> <br /><div class="articleInline runaroundLeft"><i><br /></i></div><div itemprop="articleBody"><i>Those efforts have indeed shrunk the divide. But they have created an unintended side effect, one that is surprising and troubling to researchers and policy makers and that the government now wants to fix. </i></div><div itemprop="articleBody"><i>As access to devices has spread, children in poorer families are spending considerably more time than children from more well-off families using their television and gadgets to watch shows and videos, play games and connect on social networking sites, studies show. </i></div><div itemprop="articleBody"><br /></div><div itemprop="articleBody"><i>This growing time-wasting gap, policy makers and researchers say, is more a reflection of the ability of parents to monitor and limit how children use technology than of access to it.&nbsp;</i></div><div itemprop="articleBody"><br /></div><div itemprop="articleBody">Thoughts? <i><br /></i></div>Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-79429265297301882182012-05-30T09:17:00.001-07:002012-05-30T09:17:36.357-07:00May 30JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: by request]<br /><br />For these last few days, your journal is actually YOUR JOURNAL.&nbsp; Take notes on the conversation in your head.<br /><br />"Those first few songs I wrote, I was just taking notes at a fantastic rock concert going on inside my head."<br />-Jim Morrison <br /><br />***NOTE: Today I will be hosting orientation for next year's course in the room at lunch.&nbsp; Anyone who wants to play is welcome.&nbsp; If your group needs a place to meet please see me. <br /><br />AGENDA:<br />1. Journal<br />2. Schedule for the rest of this week &amp; next<br /><br />HW:<br />In education there are many words and phrases whose contexts and connotations have spoiled their use outside the classroom (e.g., it's hard to imagine a military or corporate leader asking a team member-- without sarcasm or irony-- why s/he was "tardy").&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tonight you probably have things to do on your project.&nbsp; This is imaginative, innovative, next-level stuff: what can we call it besides "homework"?&nbsp; Please offer your suggestion in a comment to this post.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-12843131083761957082012-05-29T14:07:00.000-07:002012-05-29T14:21:52.250-07:00a sophomoric approach to assessmentI just <a href="http://byrnerhseng2.blogspot.com/2012/05/rogue-post.html">posted to the sophomore honors blog</a>, and now some of them will be in a position to shower you with credit-enhancing tributes on the <a href="http://projectinfinitysite.wordpress.com/">project infinity site</a>.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-92117727012934656202012-05-29T11:01:00.002-07:002012-05-29T11:01:57.276-07:00May 29JOURNAL TOPIC:&nbsp;<br />The beginning of your last week of K-12 education is a natural time for reflection.&nbsp; So, consider the person you were at the beginning of 10th grade and the beginning of this school year.&nbsp; Are you the same person today?&nbsp; What role has learning in general (and this course in specific) played in your growth over time?<br /><br />AGENDA:<br />1. Journal<br />2. Assessment<br />3. Thinking about final presentations<br /><br />HW:<br />Keep calm and carry on.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-86869345575989381312012-05-28T23:31:00.002-07:002012-05-28T23:31:38.679-07:00trouble posting slideshow 2.0 from iMovie to blog<b><i>This question just in; if you have answers or suggestions please comment to this post.&nbsp; Thanks!</i></b><br /><br /><div id=":1fr"><div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div>So I have made my slideshow 2.0 on iMovie and it was really easy to make and it's a great program. But.... I cannot get it to upload on my blog. Help? I have tried exporting it but it keeps saying there is an error when I go to upload.&nbsp;</div><div>Kaley</div><div>Per. 2</div></div></div></div>Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-76657625554005583822012-05-25T15:16:00.002-07:002012-05-25T15:16:57.159-07:00twitter hashtag for today's socratic seminarJust in case you didn't have a device in class and want to contribute, I'm @prestonlearning on <a href="https://twitter.com/">Twitter</a> and the hashtag for today's seminar is #dpdiglitsemDr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-1227554751155180132012-05-25T09:09:00.003-07:002012-05-25T09:18:20.797-07:00May 25JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Purple Rain" by Prince]<br /><br /><br />This week the topic is (still) you. When you began this course of study you became the heroic protagonist of your own story, and now the story is what you're doing. Tell it.&nbsp; Specifically, for today, how would you teach the next generation to use the Internet &amp; open education resources to create the most value for themselves and others?&nbsp; How would you explain to a traditionalist why this is a good thing and not a threat or something to be afraid of?<br /><br />AGENDA:<br />1. Journal<br />2. Socratic seminar<br /><br />HW:<br />This weekend is the big push on your project.&nbsp; Make it happen.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-32416247820279784752012-05-24T09:29:00.000-07:002012-05-24T10:38:31.287-07:00May 24JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Beyond Belief" by Elvis Costello; "Message in a Bottle" by The Police]<br /><br />This week the topic is (still) you. When you began this course of study you became the heroic protagonist of your own story, and now the story is what you're doing. Tell it.&nbsp; Specifically, for today, what new experiences and skills did you acquire in this course that will help you in the future?&nbsp; What artifacts have you created that show what you've learned?&nbsp; How does all this prepare you for whatever's next, and how does it show the value you represent to a network or a community?<br /><br />AGENDA:<br />1. Journal<br />2. Imagine/write/talk/think/build/AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE WHERE YOU WANT/NEED TO BE IN YOUR PROJECT TIMELINE<br /><br />HW:<br />1. Prepare for tomorrow's Socratic seminar by finding and reading three online resources about digital literacy.<br />2. Read <a href="http://booktwo.org/notebook/opinions-are-non-contemporary/">these quotes</a><br />3. Comment to this post with answers to the following questions: a) what is digital literacy? b) are you digitally literate? c) why should adults trust you to create your own educational paths without being afraid that you won't learn anything if you're not constantly tested to standards? and d) what is your vision of the digital future and your place in it?Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-16926433893691056682012-05-23T13:33:00.003-07:002012-05-23T13:33:51.629-07:0060 seniors suspended for biking to schoolAbsurd.&nbsp; So glad to hear that parents, board members, and common sense ultimately prevailed.<br /><br />Story <a href="http://www.cyclelicio.us/2012/students-suspended-for-biking-to-school/">here</a>.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-20616389339039483202012-05-23T09:06:00.002-07:002012-05-23T09:06:54.683-07:00May 23JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "My Old School" by Steely Dan; "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac]<br /><br />This week the topic is (still) you. When you began this course of study you became the heroic protagonist of your own story, and now the story is what you're doing. Tell it.&nbsp; Specifically, for today, what are you looking forward to after graduation and what will you miss?<br /><br />AGENDA:<br />1. Journal<br />2. Imagine/write/create/post/code/read/build/collaborate/question/reflect/revise<br /><br />HW:<br />1. Continue #2<br />2. Post the rest of your working schedule to your blog.&nbsp; Consider this a Hamlet-esque performative utterance; how/when will you be finished with this, what will the end product look like, and what will you be presenting during dead/finals weeks?Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-91393491560555160242012-05-22T13:31:00.000-07:002012-05-22T13:31:03.408-07:00recording of today's talk with howard rheingoldThanks to everyone who participated this morning.&nbsp; <a href="https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2012-05-22.0937.M.733258B9B2A247D992C0059A24AC18.vcr&amp;sid=voffice1">Here</a> is a link to the recording.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-17317088804403221832012-05-22T12:29:00.002-07:002012-05-22T12:29:50.187-07:00cwg leaders/members: stand and be documentedIf you are leading/working with a group on a project, please come by Room 608 so the documentary team can get a few shots of you in action.&nbsp; Thanks!Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-10873280093320578062012-05-22T11:00:00.001-07:002012-05-22T11:01:01.801-07:00suggestion box for SMC chattersHey, whaddya think?&nbsp; Please comment to this post.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-3726597627894959802012-05-22T08:52:00.002-07:002012-05-22T08:52:29.445-07:00May 22JOURNAL TOPIC:<br />This week the topic is you. When you began this course of study you became the heroic protagonist of your own story, and now the story is what you're doing. Tell it.&nbsp; Specifically, for today, why exactly are you doing the project you're doing?&nbsp; Is it personally meaningful?&nbsp; Are you doing it for career reasons, for relationship reasons, for personal reasons, or just because you are still a high school student being told what to do?<br /><br />AGENDA:<br /><b>[9:30-10:30 online conference with Howard Rheingold &amp; Roy Christopher] </b><br />1. Journal<br />2. Group/individual project work<br /><br />HW:<br />1. Post the following information to your blog:<br /><ul><li>What you've done so far;</li><li>What you still need to accomplish in the two weeks we have left;</li><li>How your work will benefit you and others.</li><li>PLEASE NOTE: failure to post will result in a status meeting Wednesday in class to determine whether you are capable of controlling your own destiny. </li></ul><br />Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-40021371538095655292012-05-21T14:49:00.001-07:002012-05-21T14:49:09.189-07:00questions for howard and RoyHoward & Roy both have experience, expertise, & tremendous insight; let's take full advantage! Please list your question(s) in a comment to this post.Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384832010390166324.post-55564794806383576212012-05-21T14:27:00.002-07:002012-05-21T14:27:51.131-07:00Meemli sessionsIf you are using meemli for your work and want to practice, there are two meet-up options today: 4:00 (with Jon leading) and 8:00 (with Rachel leading).Dr. Prestonnoreply@blogger.com2